Cadw issue “stop notice” as investigation starts to ‘damage’ to part of Offa’s Dyke by Chirk

A “stop notice” has been issued by Cadw following allegations that a section of Offa’s Dyke had had been damaged.

Councillor Terry Evans claimed this morning that around 50 yards of the monument in Chirk had been “dug up” and that diggers were active on site, highlighting the above area on his twitter account as being the section allegedly affected.

The incident was reported to the police, with officers from the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team and Cadw Wales visiting this morning.

@cadwwales people with diggers have completely dug up 50 yards of Offa’s Dyke in Chirk @Wrexham ll145AN they are still on site today 1200-year-old historical monument.

— Cllr Terry Evans (@terryevans) August 19, 2020

It has since been confirmed by officers that the site has been “surveyed and a report will now be compiled by CADW & any offences will be passed onto the Rural Crime Team to investigate.”

A stop notice has also been issued by Cadw. Such notices usually apply for a period of up to 28 days. All work will cease immediately for the period detailed on the notice and non-compliance with a stop notice is a criminal offence punishable by a fine.

After Cadw has completed an investigation, but before the end of the period covered by the temporary stop notice, Cadw may issue a written enforcement notice if required. This will specify the works necessary to repair or alleviate any damage.

Commenting on the incident, a spokesperson for Wrexham Council, said: “We are aware of the damage recently caused and Police and Cadw have attended the site to assess the damage caused.”

Cadw explain, “It is a criminal offence to destroy or damage a scheduled monument without scheduled monument consent. The person commissioning or carrying out the works is responsible for avoiding damage to scheduled monuments. Anyone found guilty of damaging or destroying a scheduled monument can be prosecuted.”

The earthwork, believed to have acted as a border between Wales and England, was constructed by Offa, King of Mercia at the end of the eighth century.

It is listed as a monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979